Forecasters are advising that South Floridians continue to keep a close eye on Tropical Storm Noel and keep up with the latest advisories, as a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for north of Ocean Reef, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.

A watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible in the named areas. Even if the watch does not escalate to a warning, winds near gale or tropical storm force are likely to continue along the coast during the next 24 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Already, rough surf and pounding waves have been slamming into South Florida’s beaches and causing some severe erosion in some places, and there is a high surf advisory for our beaches.

Residents of a waterfront condominium in South Palm Beach were urged to evacuate after pounding surf destroyed a retaining wall that had been damaged earlier this month in another storm.

As of 5:00 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Noel was located near latitude 22.6 north, longitude 78.8 West, or about 190 miles south-southwest of Nassau.  Its winds are near 50 mph, which is up from 40 earlier Wednesday morning. Some strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours.

Noel drifted westward during the past few hours and is currently meandering near the north coast of Cuba. However, a turn toward the north is expected within the next 24 hours.

Source: CBS4 

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